Siarhei Kavalenka released

Siarhei Kavalenka, an activist of the Conservative Christian Party BPF, was released from a temporary detention centre in Vitebsk on January 3.

Kavalenka was detained on December 24 after a white-red-white flag had been raised over an apartment block in the centre of Vitebsk. Andrei Preis, a judge of the Pershamaiski district police department, sentenced the activist to 10 days in custody on December 27. Kavalenka was found guilty of disorderly conduct (article 17.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences). The activist was charged with urinating in a public place and disobeying police officers. Kavalenka, 39, went on hunger strike to protest against the unfair sentence, BelaPAN reports.

Journalists didn't talk to Siarhei Kavalenka, because he was busy and couldn't answer the phone. His wife Alena said Siarhei was released at 16:45. He feels normal despite the hunger strike. Kavalennka is going to appeal against the court decision.

Siarhei Kavalenka was detained by the police several times. He was convicted three years ago for hanging out a national white-red-white flag on a public New Year Tree in Vitebsk. He went on a two-month hunger strike in jail.